Ticket-distributing system



May 5, 1931. GA DREW TICKET DISTRIBUTING SYSTEM Filed Sept. 2, 192'? 2 Sheets-Sheet 1' &

- --VIL *8 /NVEN70R 5 GEORGE A. DREW ATTORNEY May 5, 1931.

G. A DREW TICKET DISTRIBUTING SYSTEM Filed Sept. 2, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 fia4.

GEORGEADREW ATTORNEY Patented May 5, 1931 UETED STATES PATENT MQFFI'C'E GEORGE A. DREW, OF DES LIOINES, IOWA, ASSIGNOR TO AMERICAN TELEPHONE AND TELEGRAPH COMPANY, A GORPOEATICN OF NEW YORK TICKET-DISTRIBUTIN G SYSTEM Application filed September This invention relates to toll ticket distributing systems for use in telephone exchanges.

Its object is to provide an improved system 5 of this character.

In accordance with this invention an endless belt is provided to propel the tickets or cards, channels for the various tickets being provided by strips of material mounted just above the belt. These strips are provided with lengthwise corrugations to reduce the area of contact between the traveling tickets and the sides of the strips to prevent the tickets from sticking due to the frictional 15 electricity generated therebetween.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a side elevation with parts broken away to show the construction of the channels.

Fig. 2 is a partial top plan view of Fig.1 on

20 a larger scale.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken at line 8-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 1 is a detailed elevation of the ticket receptacles for the upper channels.

'Fig. 5 is a fragmentary plan view of the lower ticket channels showing the ticket stops in place.

In the following description like numerals designate similar parts throughout the several views. 7

Referring now to Fig. 1, numeral 1 represents an endless belt passing over the pulleys 2 and 3, said belt being arranged to be driven in the direction indicated by the arrows by r means of a motor 4 which is mechanically c0upled to the pulley 3. Rigidly fastened to the wooden framework 5, above and in close relation to the endless belt 1, by means of bolts 6 and supported by means of brackets 7, are two sets of guides 8 and 9, the upper guide 8 consisting of two channels 10 and 11 and the lower guide 9 consisting of four channels 12, 13, 14:, and 15. The upper channels 10 and 11 in cooperation with the upper half of the 0 moving belt 1 are arranged to carry the tickets 16 in the direction indicated by the upper arrow. At the termination of channels 10 and 11 there are provided two receptacles 17 and 18 such as shown in Fig. 4, for the reception of the tickets, 17 being the receptacle for 2, 1527. Serial No. 217,295.

tickets placed in channel 10, and 18 for the tickets placed in channel 11.

The lower channels 12, 13, 1 1 and cooperating with the lower half of the endless belt 1 are arranged to carry the tickets or cards placed therein in the direction indicated by the lower arrow. Tickets or cards placed in channels '12, 13, 14 and 15 may be stopped at any predetermined position by means of the wedges or blocks 19 of flexible material which may be inserted between the channels as shown in Fig. 5. The channels 12, 13, 14 and 15 are provided with suitable indexed tabs, A, B, C, and D for identifying the destination of that particular channel.

In order that the tickets or cards to be distributed may be carried along to their destination with the least amount of friction, the strips which form the channels are provided with a series of lengthwise corrugations 20 p such as shown in Fig. 3. These corrugations run the entire length of the channel and present a very small contact surface to the card or ticket traveling therein, thereby reducing to a minimum the amount of friction generated between the ticket and the side wall of the channel.

'VVhile it has been found preferable to employ corrugated strips of material for the purpose specified, the invention is not limited to the use of corrugations, and it is understood other suitable means for supporting the advancing card while presenting similar contactua-l guiding areas thereto may be.

employed without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

In a ticket distributing system, an endless belt, means for supporting and driving said belt. a series of longitudinal extending vertical guides mounted above each of the upper surfaces of said belt and forming channels for the reception of tickets which are arranged to travel on the belt in opposite directions, said guides presenting only a small area of contact to the traveling tickets, resilient means adapted to be located in one of said series of guidesfor stopping said tickets at predetermined points on. one run ion of the belt and ticket receiving receptacles located on the other run of the belt, at the termination of said other series of guides.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my r name to this specification this 30 day of August, 1927.

GEORGE A. DREW. 

